About Us

We fund justice for all: provide legal services, promote diversity, and educate the public.

History

1981

The Oregon Law Foundation was created by the Oregon State Bar to fund law-related charities.

1983

Oregon State Bar members created a voluntary Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. IOLTA programs began in Australia and Canada in the early 70’s. The concept was simple: the Foundation asked members of the Bar to convert their non-interest bearing, pooled client trust accounts into interest-bearing accounts, with the interest benefiting the Foundation.

1988

The OLF, the Oregon State Bar, and the Oregon Supreme Court worked together to transform the voluntary IOLTA program into a mandatory one. In November 1988, Oregon lawyers voted 2-1 for mandatory IOLTA, and Oregon’s mandatory IOLTA program began May 1, 1989.

2005

Oregon Banks worked with the OLF to create the Leadership Bank program (now Leadership Banks & Credit Unions) to highlight the generosity of banks that voluntarily pay above-market interest rates on IOLTA.

Staff

Bill Penn
Executive Director
Brooke Thacher
Assistant Director
Laura Greer
Program Coordinator

Board

The Hon. Rima Ghandour
President
Multnomah Co. Circuit Court
Portland, Oregon
Justin Thorp
President-Elect
Sherman Sherman Johnnie & Hoyt LLP
Salem, Oregon
Elise Bouneff
Secretary
Heritage Bank
Portland, Oregon
Kristen Connor
Treasurer
Heritage Bank
Portland, Oregon
Valerie Colas
Oregon Judicial Department
Salem, Oregon
Christine Costantino
Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP
Portland, Oregon
Brent Hall
Hall Law, PLLC
Walla Walla, Washington
Gus Martin
Northwest Bank
Portland, Oregon
Faith Morse
Morse Law LLC
Medford, Oregon
Bonnie Richardson
Allegiant Law, LLP
Portland, Oregon
Laura Shipley-Strobbe
Bank of America
Lake Oswego, Oregon
The Hon. Chanpone Sinlapasai
Multnomah Co. Circuit Court
Portland, Oregon
Diane Sykes
Diane Sykes, Attorney at Law PC
Portland, Oregon
The Hon. Debra Velure
Lane Co. Circuit Court
Eugene, Oregon
Board Member Emeritus:
Randy Compton
OSB Board of Governors Liaison:
John Marandas

Contact

Oregon Law Foundation
101 SW Madison St. #8367
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-3353
[email protected]

Documents

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016